Women of Influence: The women of the Alabama Legislature
Women account for 52 percent of the population in Alabama, but when it comes to equal representation in Montgomery, the Yellowhammer State ranks among the bottom six states in the country for female representation in state legislature. Out of 140 members in the state legislature, there are only 22 female lawmakers. That’s a measly 15.7 percent. Of those 22 women — 18 in the House of Representatives and 4 in the Senate — just three find themselves in chairmanships of the 53 standing committees in the two chambers. Two others serve in vice-chairmanships, and six Democratic lawmakers are ranking members in their respective committees. While 2018 may have been dubbed the “Year of the Woman” in Alabama, politics, the state still has a long way to go to reach parity. Women in the State House of Representatives Louise Alexander Barbara Boyd: Ranking minority member on the House Children and Senior Advocacy Committee; Ranking minority member on the House County and Municipal Government Committee; Ranking minority member on the House Rules Committee Adline Clarke Merika Coleman Terri Collins: Chairman of the House Education Policy Committee Barbara Drummond Juandalynn Givan: Ranking minority member on the House Constitution Campaigns and Elections Committee Laura Hall: Ranking member on the House Health Committee; Ranking minority member on the House Technology and Research Committee; Ranking minority member on the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Rolanda Hollis Toshina Morris Mary Moore Becky Nordgren: Chairman of the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee Connie Rowe: Vice-chairman of the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Ginny Shaver Pebblin Warren April Weaver: Chairman of the House Health Committee; Chairman of the House Shelby County Legislation Committee Marie Wilcox: Vice-chairman of the House County and Municipal Government Committee Debbie Wood Women in the State Senate Priscilla Dunn: Ranking minority member on the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee; Ranking minority member on the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee Vivian Davis Figures: Ranking minority member on the Senate Education Policy Committee; Ranking minority member on the Senate Local Legislation Mobile County Committee Linda Coleman-Madison: Ranking minority member of the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee; Ranking minority member on the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee; Ranking minority member on the Senate Healthcare Committee Malika-Fortier
Women of Influence: Dr. Cynthia McCarty, Alabama Board of Education Vice-President
Vice-President of the Alabama Board of Education, Alabama Educator Hall of Famer, and a career spanning over two decades; Dr. Cynthia McCarty has a love for her calling that few can match. Born in Auburn, Ala. McCarty attended city schools until her graduation from Auburn University with a Bachelor’s degree in International Trade. From there, she moved to Birmingham, Ala. pursuing an MBA at Samford University then moving to North Carolina to earn a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Moving back to the Yellowhammer State, McCarty began her career in education at Jacksonville State University (JSU) in 1990, where she still works as a Professor of Economics in the College of Commerce and Business Administration. For the past 20 years McCarty has also served as the Director of JSU’s Center for Business and Free Enterprise Education and Entrepreneurship, providing professional development for K-12 teachers and education students, in the areas of economics, social studies, and personal finance. Throughout her already impressive career, McCarty has been involved with several organizations outside of her “job.” McCarty currently serves as president of 3E, an organization that strives to enhance the connections between the business community and area schools; is a member of the Alabama Council for Social Studies and previously served as a Board member of the Alabama Council on Economic Education. She is also a member of the National Business Educators Association and the American Economics Association, according to her website. She’s a graduate of Leadership Calhoun County, and has taught several sessions of Youth Leadership Calhoun County. In 2013, McCarty was inducted into the Alabama Educator’s Hall of Fame for her contributions to the field of economics. According to her website, she has authored or co-authored “14 published academic articles and has presented numerous times on the state of Alabama’s economy and economic education in K-12 schools.” In 2014, McCarty ran unopposed in the November general election as the representative for district six on the Alabama State Board of Education. She held her position until last month when the board elected her as Vice-President. McCarty runs again this year for her seat; unopposed. McCarty is a woman of true dedication and service to the State of Alabama, and was kind enough to answer some of Alabama Today’s questions about her life, work, and influences. How have other women influenced your success? My mother, who has consistently supported and encouraged me to strive for excellence, certainly motivated me to always do my best. Although there are too many to name individually, I would say that colleagues at JSU, educators in District VI, and fellow board members have all taught me a tremendous amount about service and leadership. I continue striving to improve by observing their accomplished leadership skills. What shaped your desire to work in education? My desire to work in education comes from a belief that relevant, accessible, and quality education will allow our children to reach their potential and prosper. If I can help improve the quality, relevance, and accessibility of education in Alabama, then I certainly want to do this. What has been your favorite area of service, and what is your favorite thing about that position? My favorite work in education is visiting classrooms and observing innovative, effective teachers introduce a new concept to students in such a way that they all “get it.” That moment is both miraculous and inspirational. Thus, my favorite area of service occurs when I can improve policies that allow teachers to provide more quality instruction in the classroom. Have you read any books that have shaped your perspective on life? Oh, the list of books I read! Well, I try to read a Biblical passage each morning. I’m also reading a book (for the second time, so that maybe it will stick better) on Christian Leadership, given to me by my predecessor, Dr. Charles Elliott. And I read many books on education, such as Ron Clark’s “Move Your Bus” and Robert Putnam’s “Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis.” In addition, I have a love of biographies and am currently reading the biographies of the US presidents (I just finished Rutherford B. Hayes) and novels such as “The Guernsey and Potato Peel Pie Society,” which I read when I needed a break from Rutherford. Books inspire and relax me. What advice would you give to young women who want to work in education? I would say that educators are the key to the success of our future. Nothing is so important as a caring, effective teacher. That said, education is the most important profession. If we don’t have quality, caring educators, where will our engineers, writers, doctors, inventors, electricians, machinists be in 20 years? How will they learn to read, write, compute, problem-solve? We must nurture and encourage intelligent, caring adults to continue to pursue education as a vital career path. Yes, teaching can be difficult. However, although teaching is sometimes challenging, the opportunities to improve the lives of students are enormous and will benefit generations to come. How do you spend your (rare) free time? I spend any free time I can grab by reading books, watching Auburn football and the NCAA basketball tournament, and visiting family and friends. For her dedication to the education of students within the Yellowhammer Sate and her desire to lead publicly on the State Board of Education, Dr. Cynthia McCarty is undeniably an Alabama woman of Influence
Women of Influence: Department of Early Childhood Education Secretary Jeana Ross
Few women in education have worked as long, and as hard to advance the education of young children in Alabama as Jeana Ross. A Guntersville native, Ross earned her Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, and her Master’s in educational leadership from the University of Alabama. She began her career in the Jackson County school system in 1975, teaching second and third grades. From there, she taught in the Guntersville education system, continuing her work with children in kindergarten through the third grade, and became one of the first kindergarten teachers in Alabama Public Schools, a full-day program. “My love for children’s curiosity and delight of discovery created a strong desire to always participate in and facilitate the pure joy of learning,” Ross told the U.S. Department of Education in an interview. When she started her own family, Ross chose to take a break from her career, and focussed on raising her two sons. In 1997 she jumped back in to the workforce, full speed ahead. Starting back as a preschool teacher, Ross was given the opportunity to write school readiness standards for the Marshall County school district. With her focus now turned on developing other children throughout the state; she quickly advanced to a leadership position, coaching pre-k teachers, and building pre-k programs in school systems across the state. In 2008 she became the Director for Educational Services in the Boaz City School Systems, implementing and evaluating Early childhood education programs. From 2010-2011 she served as the Assistant Principal at Madison City Schools, until she was appointed by then Governor Robert Bentley to lead the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education. Through Ross’s leadership, the department has made leaps and bounds. Turning the state’s fragmented early childhood education programs into award winning, nationally recognized curriculums. Under her watchful eye, the program has experienced the most growth in its history; growing from 211 classrooms to more than 900 classrooms located in all 67 counties in the state. Her department has also been responsible for writing and receiving over $100 million in federal grant awards for education. The program has also received national recognition, with Alabama being one of only four states in the nation to be recognized by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) for meeting all 10 of the NIEER quality benchmarks. As a member of Governor Kay Ivey‘s cabinet, she is also a leader of the Children’s Policy Council, the Children First Trust Fund, and the Head Start Collaboration Office, and a founding member of the Office of School Readiness Advisory Board and Evaluation Task Force. Ross has always held a special interest, and love for children from low-income and has secured over $7.5 million in grant funds over the course of her career to offer quality services to low income and at-risk children and families. Through her efforts, the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education has experienced tremendous growth, in numbers, and in the quality of the programs offered. Ross is an expert leader and educator, spending over two decades advancing the Alabama education system, and improving the lives of the children she encountered along the way. In spite of her busy schedule, Ross was kind enough to take some time, and answer some of Alabama Today’s questions on her life, work, and influences. How have other women influenced your success? I have been greatly influenced by the effort of devoted educators, many of whom are women, who work regardless of pay or recognition every day to teach children and champion their right to reach their greatest potential. These women are examples of selflessness and responsiveness that provides children powerful opportunities to find purpose and experience success that impacts their entire life through an excellent education. An incredible mother and two dear grandmothers, true examples of graciousness, humility, love and determination continue to inspire me. What shaped your desire to work in education, and then in government? A love for a child’s curiosity and delight of discovery created a strong desire to always participate in this pure joy of learning and to protect it as much as possible. What has been your favorite area of service, and what is your favorite thing about that position? My opportunity for service from the first was centered around early learning and has remained my favorite area of concentration. The first five years are the most important in a child’s development. It is during these years that a foundation is established that shapes a child’s future health, skills and abilities. A position at the state level that enables me to be part of an amazing team of experts that with great energy and enthusiasm effect change and creates a system of support for the early years is a much-appreciated responsibility. Have you read any books that have shaped your perspective on life? The Bible is the book that has most shaped my perspective on life. It has given me understanding of purpose, knowledge of truth and acceptance of my limitations. It provides guidance and strength to continually improve and persevere in serving others. What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue careers as educators, or serve in state government? Surround yourself with positive and innovative people that value authentic collaboration and strategic risk-taking. Never under estimate the power of communication and honesty. How do you spend your (rare) free time? During rare free time, I enjoy entertaining, gardening and reading and most of all being with family.
Women of Influence: NASA astrophysicist Dr. Colleen Wilson-Hodge
Alabama has been home to many pioneers in many different industries, but after several new astronomic discoveries, long-time Huntsville resident and NASA astrophysicist Dr. Colleen Wilson-Hodge has set herself apart in a big way. From an early age, Wilson-Hodge had a love for astronomy and space few could match. In the sixth grade, she took an overnight field trip to the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., where she toured NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. “I think that was the first time I realized I could actually work for NASA as a grownup,” she said. In college she became a NASA co-op student, alternating between classes and working for NASA she met Dr. Gerald Fishman, who was managing the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) at the time. She caught his excitement for the project, and began studying gamma ray bursts in 1989. Wilson-Hodge graduated with a Master’s degree in Physics from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 1996, and immediately began studying for her Ph. D. in Astrophysics, which she obtained in 1999. In 1999 Wilson-Hodge discovered a special type of pulsar called an X-ray pulsar, which led her to the finding of two new stars. X-ray pulsars emit X-rays and gamma-rays and are powered by accretion, stars gobbling up material from a companion star. “For just a little while, the universe is putting on a show that only I, and members of the gamma-ray team know about,” Wilson-Hodge told the Marshall Space Flight Center. She continued to work on the BATSE project until 2000, when the monitor was de-orbited. Wilson-Hodge continued working at the Marshall Space Flight Center, and made another discovery in 2011, when she and her team revealed unexpected changes in X-ray emission from the Crab Nebula. “For 40 years, most astronomers regarded the Crab as a standard candle,” she told UAH. “Now, for the first time, we’re clearly seeing how much our candle flickers.” In August of 2017, Wilson-Hodge and the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) team gave the world its first detection of light from the same source as gravitational waves, which according to NASA are “ripples in space and time.” “This new way of learning about the universe is kind of like gaining a new sense. It’s as if we’ve been watching the news for all of human history, but the T.V. has been on mute, now with gravitational wave detectors, we’re finally able to turn on the sound,” said Wilson-Hodge’s associate Tyson Littenberg. “When we built GBM and launched it on Fermi in 2008, we designed it to detect gamma-ray bursts well,” Wilson-Hodge told NASA. “Back then, it was only slated to fly for five years. Today, GBM is at the forefront of an entirely new type of science, ushering in this new era of multi-messenger astronomy.” Her findings won her, and the GBM team the 2018 Bruno Rossi Prize, the top prize in high-energy astronomy. Wilson-Hodge is a extremely “bright star,” in the world of scientific discoveries, and was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to answer some of Alabama Today’s questions about her life, work and influences: How have other women influenced your success? Several women in my life have had a positive influence. The first is my Mom, Carol Wilson, who always encouraged me to pursue my dreams, even if they were out of the ordinary. She has always believed in me and celebrated my successes, and still does! Another was Ms. Sutherland, my high school speech and drama teacher. She taught me much about public speaking that I still use today. I hear her voice in my head sometimes when I’m preparing talks. Early in my career at NASA, I worked with mostly men. One woman did have a big impact on me though. Her name is Dr. Jean Swank. She was the project scientist for the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer, a satellite that I used quite a bit of data from in my PhD Dissertation. She is an excellent scientist and an extremely capable leader and she is a quiet person like me. She was my first in person example of someone like me leading a space experiment, something that I always wanted to do, and she was a mentor to me. More recently Dr. Linda Sparke from NASA HQ spent a year leading the project that I now lead. She is also an excellent scientist and leader and an extremely good reader of people. She was leading a project where she wasn’t the expert in the specific science area, so she led collaboratively, getting the inputs she needed from the experts on the team to make decisions. She wasn’t afraid to say she didn’t know, but knew where to go to get the information. She was a great mentor to me as I became the principal investigator of the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor. What shaped your desire to work with NASA, specifically high energy astrophysics? I was fascinated by the Voyager images coming back from Jupiter and later Saturn when I was a child. I would clip the photos out of the newspaper and collect them. In the third grade, I told my classmates I wanted to be an astrophysicist, partially because I liked the big word and partially because I was interested in space. In the sixth grade, my school from Athens, TN, took an overnight field trip to the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., where we toured NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. I think that was the first time I realized I could actually work for NASA as a grownup! When I was in college, initially at University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, I was hired as a cooperative education student at NASA MSFC. Initially I wasn’t working in astrophysics at all, and I thought my interest was to go into radio astronomy. While I was at MSFC, I walked down the hall to the Astrophysics Division and met Dr. Gerald Fishman who led the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) which was to be launched on the Compton Gamma ray
Women of Influence: Republican Party State Chairman Terry Lathan
Starting her political involvement at the age of 18, Terry Lathan has been a driving force for the Alabama Republican party for over 40 years. A native of Mobile, Ala. Lathan earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Auburn University at Montgomery, and taught fifth and sixth grade in a public school for a decade. She went on to serve as a Board member to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater South Alabama, and in 2012 was named the Boys and Girls Club Alabama Board Member of the Year — out of 735 members. In 2013 graduated from Leadership Mobile, a program whose mission is to train and empower leaders in Mobile who are committed to supporting and leading community growth and progress. Her years spent as en educator came full-circle when was appointed by former Gov. Robert Bentley in 2011 to the Alabama State Mathematics Textbook Committee. A longtime sustaining donor to the Women’s Resource Center, a Pro-Life Organization in Mobile, Lathan has also served there as a counselor and Life Chain coordinator. Political career Lathan’s career in politics started in In 1977, when she volunteered for former Governor of Alabama Guy Hunt‘s campaign. Since that time she has served in many different capacities for several campaigns including: former President Ronald Reagan‘s, both of George W. Bush‘s in 2000 and 2004; was an Alabama College Elector for former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney in 2012, and a RNC delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention from Alabama, supporting President Donald Trump at the convention. She has been a member of the Alabama Republican Executive Committee since 1990, and became county chair of the Mobile County Republican Party in 2010. In 2004, 2010 and 2014 she and her husband Jerry Lathan won the Alabama Republican of the Year awards. She is also a winner of the Mobile County Republican Party Lifetime Achievement Award, 2008. In 2015 Lathan was elected chair of the Alabama Republican party, a position she still holds today; pledging to work toward transparency and unity within the Republican Party. It’s safe to say, Lathan is a political sage, with many years of experience in the political world. She was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to answer some of Alabama Today’s questions about her life, work and influences: How have other women influenced your success? The first day of school I went home and announced I wanted to be a teacher. My teachers mesmerized me. I had a great desire, even at six, to be like them. The strength, compassion and caring they had was a huge influence on me. They modeled that anyone could do anything they wanted in life. I taught 5th and 6th grades for ten years. I then wanted to spend time with my two children helping at their school so I stepped away from teaching. I still miss being in a classroom. What shaped your desire to work with education and government? I love children and teaching. If I have a choice of standing at a political event or sitting on the floor with children, I’ll be down on the floor. I also love mentoring teens and College Republicans. When I was a teenager and started tuning in to current events, I became very pro-life. I realized I could never be a part of a political party who fights for the destruction of unborn children. My life values and Democrat actions clashed inside of me. I would do what I could to use our system to get in that arena. History and the love of country greatly appealed to me- the military, veterans, first responders and volunteers who helped others in times of need. I also grew to recognize that more freedom and less government in our lives ramped up my interest in volunteering in the Republican Party. Instead of reading or hearing about issues I disagreed with, I simply started volunteering to change things. What has been your favorite area of service, and what is your favorite thing about that position? Meeting thousands of Republicans who love Alabama and America is up lifting. I have visited all 67 counties meeting with Republican committees, clubs, auxiliary groups, elected officials and grassroots activists. Helping fellow citizens to win elections with conservative issues is still exciting after forty years. I love teaching about the mechanics of elections, new technology uses and sharing the conservative policies of the Republican Party. Being a teacher didn’t end for me in a classroom door. I love sharing information with my Republican teammates. I also try to be a political ambassador that believes raising the bar of decency, integrity and putting people first in politics is imperative. We have so many great public servants who work hard everyday. I reject the sayings of “They’re all like that” or “That’s just politics”. That’s a false excuse that should never be accepted for lowering the bar of expectations of public service. I try to share that message everywhere I speak. Have you read any books that have shaped your perspective on life? Other than the Bible, there is not one particular book that has shaped my perspective. I was moved by the autobiography of former slave and Republican Frederick Douglass. His story is breathtaking and gives a foundation of freedom, will power and strength that everyone should read. From a slave who died a millionaire and counseled several presidents, it’s a true story of the power of the human spirit. What advice would you give to young women who want to work in education or politics? Jump in. Find a place to use your strengths. Be prepared to lose some along with the wins, but keep going. Know that not everyone will always agree with you politically, but that’s with everything in life. Don’t back down on something you feel strongly about but learn to work with what you can. Be patient and keep going forward no matter what. Always remember the big picture. How do you spend your (rare) free time? My GOP state chairman position is a volunteer job which runs 30-50 hours a week. We
Women of Influence: Greater Birmingham Humane Society CEO Allison Black Cornelius
There’s no shortage of influential women doing amazing things in the Yellowhammer State and Birmingham’s Allison Black Cornelius is certainly one of them. The President and Chief Executive Officer at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS), Cornelius is also the Founder and President of Blackfish, a consulting group specializing in “total team strategy” using organizational, staff, and board development programs. Cornelius has faced more than her fair share of adversity but has used it to fuel her work, and advocacy for those who can’t speak for themselves. A graduate of John Carroll High School, she received her nonprofit, and leadership education through the Harvard Business School Social Enterprise Initiative where she completed her MBA. Cornelius is a true testament to the resilience of the human spirit. When she was seven years old, she was molested and raped several times by her Sunday School teacher, Leon Prince over the course of three months. “Leon Prince doesn’t just rape you, he tortures you,” Cornelius told WSFA. Prince told her if she refused to do what he asked, or told anyone what he was doing that he’d kill her dog, so Cornelius stayed silent for 20 years. In 1988 Cornelius began the long, and arduous task of facing Prince and informing the world of what he had done. Prince was indicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison, of which he only served 15 years. “We were lucky for him to do 15,” she says. “It brought me 15 years where he didn’t mess with a kid. Now, we’re back to square one,” she told AL.com. Cornelius played a huge role in the court process, and the process of others; spearheading the passage of Megan’s Law in 36 states and creating the first Sex Offender Registry in the nation, and has founded more than 50 child advocacy centers around the country as well as Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) agencies. But she’s done so much more than that. Cornelius has been hard at work lately between the humane society and Blackfish, making over 150 presentations each year. She offers lectures and trains audiences, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies on how to just “keep on swimming.” She has trained more than 1,000 nonprofit boards and raised more than $30 million for charity through these public presentations. Cornelius has traveled the world speaking; the year before she became CEO of the Humane Society, she traveled 265 of 365 days in the year. She’s given messages at the Kennedy Center, for professional sports teams, celebrity foundations, and the White House. She’s won several awards including: Birmingham 12 SMARTEST Women 2012, Animal Advocate of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Woman of Distinction, Mervyn H. Sterne Award, and was an Olympic Torch Relay Runner. Cornelius accepted the CEO position at GBHS in 2014, and has brought the company to a $4.5 million annual budget, operating three facilities, providing jobs for 80 employees. The humane society currently takes in over 23,000 animals each year, and that number is only growing. When Cornelius took over the humane society in 2014, one major source of income she sought was a government contract to take over the animal control in unincorporated parts of Jefferson County. The GBHS won the contract, and has been taking care of Jefferson County, including Birmingham’s stray animal problems since. She is currently concentrating on revitalizing the GBHS; which include plans to build a news $30 million facility located on land nestled between Titusville and will house all of the GBHS’s programs and services and provide more room for additional students from both Auburn and Tuskegee University’s. The facility would also contain a Cat Cafe, a growing trend in the U.S. From her extraordinary career despite the horrendous acts committed against her, her ability to turn her pain into advocacy for other, and her service to animal lovers in Birmingham, it’s indisputable why Allison Black Cornelius is this week’s woman of influence.
